Daily expert horse racing betting tips - Friday December 5th 2025

Lee Butterworth (@ButtysBets on X) is back to offer his daily betting selections from the National Hunt sphere right here on OddsNow.com.

Lee flags up anything that takes his eye each weekday morning, with all stakes tracked for P/L purposes.

Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled on Odds Now for SD's Lunchtime Tip, too – it lands exclusively on site between 12.30pm and 1pm every weekday.

Butty's Bets - horse racing tips for Friday December 5th 2025

2.20pm Sandown - Salver - 9/4 (various)

This is quite a trappy little affair if I'm completely honest. Salver comes into this off the back of a solid chase debut however, stepping up in trip considerably this time out.

He was a solid performer over hurdles, winning four of his 10 starts in that sphere with perhaps his best performance coming in the 2024 edition of the Triumph Hurdle.

He finished a 6L 3rd behind Majborough and Kargese there. The former has since won a pair of Grade 1 races over fences, while the latter went on to win a Grade 1 Juvenile race at the Punchestown festival. And then last term, she won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival with any amount in hand.

Going back to the selection, though. Salver went on to place in a couple of Grade 2 races last season with one of them coming at this track, over a shorter trip than this (2M 5 1/2F). He bumped into the Paul Nicholls trained Blueking d'Oroux and was beaten just a head. Jumping right at the final flight cost him there. Once headed after the mistake, he battled back to nearly get his head back in front, hinting that a step up in trip would be worth exploring.

He had a recent seasonal blowout, making his chase debut at Exeter. He finished an honourable 10L 3rd behind Lulamba and Fingle Bridge. Certainly no disgrace there. They are both very decent horses in their own right.

Soft ground suits him well, so if seeing out this trip, I think he could well go in here.

READ MORE: Gab Sutton Weekly – Championship big hitters finding form

2.55pm Sandown - Welcome To Cartries - 9/1 (various)

Welcome To Cartries comes into this with a bit to prove at present, now being 0/3 over fences. To be fair though, he's been set some stiff tasks thus far.

He was pitched into a Grade 2 novice over course and distance on chase debut and didn't run too badly, only beaten 6L by the winner Handstands. He jumped right under pressure at the final fence, eventually finishing fourth, and may have needed the run.

He was then thrown into the deep end again next time out, running in the Kauto Star Novices. He finished a well beaten fourth this time behind The Jukebox Man. As most will know, the winner is a high class horse. So no disgrace there either.

His reappearence run came in a very competitive Novice Chase at the October meeting at Cheltenham. Sporting the first time cheekpieces, he ran no race at all. I suspect the lack of a recent run played its part there.

The cheekpieces are discarded this time, with just a tongue tie left on. He makes his handicap debut over fences this time, dropping to Class 3 company. Given a mark of 130, I think he's better than this for sure.

Butty's best horse racing bets for Friday December 5th 2025

1pt win - 2.20pm Sandown - Salver - 9/4 (various)

1pt win - 2.55pm Sandown - Welcome To Cartries - 9/1 (various)

Total staked - 2pts

Prices correct as of 10:30am on Friday, December 5th 2025.